Re: First post....my test results are in.

September 17, 2006

Tina,

Let me suggest the following:

1. Go to this site and read about the 7 stages of adrenal fatigue.

Be sure to click the links on the bottom of each page. They will

take you successively through stages 1-7.

http://www.chronicfatigue.org/ASI%20Normal.html

2. Your numbers indicate depressed cortisol levels all day long,

and elevated DHEA. This probably corresponds to " stage 6 " adrenal

fagtigue where your body is making a last-ditch effort to

manufacture more cortisol by elevating your DHEA.

3. Get professional guidance. When your adrenals are that far

gone, you need to be doing more than just adding cortisol. Although

your DHEA levels are already elevated, this is probably temporary

because I don't think people usually remain in stage 6 for

long...they quickly overdraw their DHEA " account " and end up low in

both DHEA and cortisol. So, you may actually need to supplement

with other hormone precursors, such as pregnenelone or DHEA.

Getting a hydrocortisone prescription may well be warranted, but

knowing how much to take, when to take it, and what else to take in

addition to the HC requires both art and science. Myself, I'm real

nervous about an entirely DIY approach to hormones and so my

personal choice has been to get professional assistance from the

Clymer Clinic and augment that with as much self-study as I can,

along with " networking " with others in forums such as this message

board. However, Val, the moderator of this forum, is sort of our

poster child for DIY success and has had amazing results with an

entirely DIY approach.

Bottom line: I hope the information above is helpful with whatever

you decide to pursue.

--Steve

>

> I recognize some names here from STTM.

>

> My name is Tina. I'm 39 years old, and now that I look back at it,

I

> suspect I've been hypo/low adrenal for at least 7 years that I can

> think of. About 3 years ago, I went out of town on a weekend

> vacation, and then went away out of town a month after that for

> another short vacation. During my second vacation, I just felt

this

> unbearable fatigue. of course, the Dr. that took care of me could

> find " nothing wrong " . But I know that I had to have suffered an

> adrenal crash. I was able to function, but I had 0 energy. It took

a

> LOT of bed-rest and about 8 weeks to get back to normal. During my

> early 30's, I had gained a lot of weight, and I've just recently

> lost 40 pounds with about 50 more to go.....so I'm going in the

> right direction, weight-wise.

>

> I started taking Armour July 25th, after being properly diagnosed.

> The problem has been that I cannot raise dosages without side

> effects, and have been on 1/2 grain daily for almost 8 weeks!

>

> Here are my ZRT lab hormone test results. And I know.....they are

> AWFUL!!!

>

> DHEAS 22.1 ng/ml (range: 3-10)

> Cortisol:

> AM: 1.0 ng/ml (range: 3-8)

> Noon: 1.4 ng/ml (range: 2-4)

> Evening:1.1 ng/ml (range: 1-2)

> PM: 0.4 ng/ml (range: 05.-1.5)

>

> My questions are: when my physician prescribes me HC, what dosages

> should I work up to, and with these low numbers, what is the

> likelihood that I may need long-term adrenal support? With my

> adrenals being SO weak, should I just spend a few weeks boosting

my

> adrenals with HC, and then add Armour back?

>

> When I filled out the ZRT questionnaire, the top of the report

sheet

> lists Menopausal Status: Pre-Menopause. Would the adrenal function

> test be used to determine this? I suspected I was pre-

> menopausal...if the test results point to it, now I know for

sure.

>

> Thank you so much, in advance, and thank you for reading.

>

September 17, 2006

> >

> > I recognize some names here from STTM.

> >

> > My name is Tina. I'm 39 years old, and now that I look back at

it,

> I

> > suspect I've been hypo/low adrenal for at least 7 years that I

can

> > think of. About 3 years ago, I went out of town on a weekend

> > vacation, and then went away out of town a month after that for

> > another short vacation. During my second vacation, I just felt

> this

> > unbearable fatigue. of course, the Dr. that took care of me

could

> > find " nothing wrong " . But I know that I had to have suffered an

> > adrenal crash. I was able to function, but I had 0 energy. It

took

> a

> > LOT of bed-rest and about 8 weeks to get back to normal. During

my

> > early 30's, I had gained a lot of weight, and I've just recently

> > lost 40 pounds with about 50 more to go.....so I'm going in the

> > right direction, weight-wise.

> >

> > I started taking Armour July 25th, after being properly

diagnosed.

> > The problem has been that I cannot raise dosages without side

> > effects, and have been on 1/2 grain daily for almost 8 weeks!

> >

> > Here are my ZRT lab hormone test results. And I know.....they

are

> > AWFUL!!!

> >

> > DHEAS 22.1 ng/ml (range: 3-10)

> > Cortisol:

> > AM: 1.0 ng/ml (range: 3-8)

> > Noon: 1.4 ng/ml (range: 2-4)

> > Evening:1.1 ng/ml (range: 1-2)

> > PM: 0.4 ng/ml (range: 05.-1.5)

> >

> > My questions are: when my physician prescribes me HC, what

dosages

> > should I work up to, and with these low numbers, what is the

> > likelihood that I may need long-term adrenal support? With my

> > adrenals being SO weak, should I just spend a few weeks boosting

> my

> > adrenals with HC, and then add Armour back?

> >

> > When I filled out the ZRT questionnaire, the top of the report

> sheet

> > lists Menopausal Status: Pre-Menopause. Would the adrenal

function

> > test be used to determine this? I suspected I was pre-

> > menopausal...if the test results point to it, now I know for

> sure.

> >

> > Thank you so much, in advance, and thank you for reading.

> >

>

September 17, 2006

I'd still suggest a bit of guidance from others more knowledeable.

It is my understanding that DHEA is generally recommended for men,

and pregnenolone for women. But like most things hormonal, it's

probably not that simple. Particularly when you start trying to mix

a complex cocktail of both hormonal precursors, such as DHEA and

pregnenlone, AND hormones themselves (such as cortisol and Armour).

As to feeling good, I'm the same. By all accounts I should probably

be bedridden...and some days, I have been. But I'm " only " stage 5.

I work full time and single-parent full time, and hope my

improvement will allow me to keep this up and return to the person I

used to be. Somehow, I keep my head above water. I'm not sure if

it is my prayers, the prayers of others, or both.

--steve

> > >

> > > I recognize some names here from STTM.

> > >

> > > My name is Tina. I'm 39 years old, and now that I look back at

> it,

> > I

> > > suspect I've been hypo/low adrenal for at least 7 years that I

> can

> > > think of. About 3 years ago, I went out of town on a weekend

> > > vacation, and then went away out of town a month after that

for

> > > another short vacation. During my second vacation, I just felt

> > this

> > > unbearable fatigue. of course, the Dr. that took care of me

> could

> > > find " nothing wrong " . But I know that I had to have suffered

an

> > > adrenal crash. I was able to function, but I had 0 energy. It

> took

> > a

> > > LOT of bed-rest and about 8 weeks to get back to normal.

During

> my

> > > early 30's, I had gained a lot of weight, and I've just

recently

> > > lost 40 pounds with about 50 more to go.....so I'm going in

the

> > > right direction, weight-wise.

> > >

> > > I started taking Armour July 25th, after being properly

> diagnosed.

> > > The problem has been that I cannot raise dosages without side

> > > effects, and have been on 1/2 grain daily for almost 8 weeks!

> > >

> > > Here are my ZRT lab hormone test results. And I know.....they

> are

> > > AWFUL!!!

> > >

> > > DHEAS 22.1 ng/ml (range: 3-10)

> > > Cortisol:

> > > AM: 1.0 ng/ml (range: 3-8)

> > > Noon: 1.4 ng/ml (range: 2-4)

> > > Evening:1.1 ng/ml (range: 1-2)

> > > PM: 0.4 ng/ml (range: 05.-1.5)

> > >

> > > My questions are: when my physician prescribes me HC, what

> dosages

> > > should I work up to, and with these low numbers, what is the

> > > likelihood that I may need long-term adrenal support? With my

> > > adrenals being SO weak, should I just spend a few weeks

boosting

> > my

> > > adrenals with HC, and then add Armour back?

> > >

> > > When I filled out the ZRT questionnaire, the top of the report

> > sheet

> > > lists Menopausal Status: Pre-Menopause. Would the adrenal

> function

> > > test be used to determine this? I suspected I was pre-

> > > menopausal...if the test results point to it, now I know for

> > sure.

> > >

> > > Thank you so much, in advance, and thank you for reading.

> > >

> >

>

September 17, 2006

> > > >

> > > > I recognize some names here from STTM.

> > > >

> > > > My name is Tina. I'm 39 years old, and now that I look back

at

> > it,

> > > I

> > > > suspect I've been hypo/low adrenal for at least 7 years that

I

> > can

> > > > think of. About 3 years ago, I went out of town on a weekend

> > > > vacation, and then went away out of town a month after that

> for

> > > > another short vacation. During my second vacation, I just

felt

> > > this

> > > > unbearable fatigue. of course, the Dr. that took care of me

> > could

> > > > find " nothing wrong " . But I know that I had to have suffered

> an

> > > > adrenal crash. I was able to function, but I had 0 energy.

It

> > took

> > > a

> > > > LOT of bed-rest and about 8 weeks to get back to normal.

> During

> > my

> > > > early 30's, I had gained a lot of weight, and I've just

> recently

> > > > lost 40 pounds with about 50 more to go.....so I'm going in

> the

> > > > right direction, weight-wise.

> > > >

> > > > I started taking Armour July 25th, after being properly

> > diagnosed.

> > > > The problem has been that I cannot raise dosages without

side

> > > > effects, and have been on 1/2 grain daily for almost 8

weeks!

> > > >

> > > > Here are my ZRT lab hormone test results. And I

know.....they

> > are

> > > > AWFUL!!!

> > > >

> > > > DHEAS 22.1 ng/ml (range: 3-10)

> > > > Cortisol:

> > > > AM: 1.0 ng/ml (range: 3-8)

> > > > Noon: 1.4 ng/ml (range: 2-4)

> > > > Evening:1.1 ng/ml (range: 1-2)

> > > > PM: 0.4 ng/ml (range: 05.-1.5)

> > > >

> > > > My questions are: when my physician prescribes me HC, what

> > dosages

> > > > should I work up to, and with these low numbers, what is the

> > > > likelihood that I may need long-term adrenal support? With

my

> > > > adrenals being SO weak, should I just spend a few weeks

> boosting

> > > my

> > > > adrenals with HC, and then add Armour back?

> > > >

> > > > When I filled out the ZRT questionnaire, the top of the

report

> > > sheet

> > > > lists Menopausal Status: Pre-Menopause. Would the adrenal

> > function

> > > > test be used to determine this? I suspected I was pre-

> > > > menopausal...if the test results point to it, now I know for

> > > sure.

> > > >

> > > > Thank you so much, in advance, and thank you for reading.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

September 17, 2006

>>Cortisol:

AM: 1.0 ng/ml (range: 3-8)

Noon: 1.4 ng/ml (range: 2-4)

Evening:1.1 ng/ml (range: 1-2)

PM: 0.4 ng/ml (range: 05.-1.5)

My questions are: when my physician prescribes me HC, what dosages

should I work up to, and with these low numbers, what is the

likelihood that I may need long-term adrenal support? With my

adrenals being SO weak, should I just spend a few weeks boosting my

adrenals with HC, and then add Armour back? <<

When he prescribes you will surely need at least 20MG, in divided doses. But you

should hold that dose for at least a month to see if ti is enough. Only then if

you have still trouble raising Armour should you increase it. I do believe you

will end up needing mre than 20MG but how much more is very individual. Once you

are started I can certinly help you with adjusting the itmes and dosages to work

best for yoiu, btu alot is trial and error to find what works best for you.

Start now with eating alot of high protein snacks you need to eat something

eveyr couople hours. Avoid sweets and fruits and et the most protein you can. I

found Yogurt and string cheese were my best friends.. .well next to my sea salt!

Are you on sea salt? If not get some! Unrefuined sea salt is what oyu want and

take 1/2 tsp in orange juice AM and PM. You do need the sweet juice to help it

absorb properly, btu if the sweetness of the juice leaves you draggin gin an

hour or so you can also just put it in a large glass of clean water. I always

recommend CLEAN water, this mean reverse osmosis bottled water as fluoride and

chlorine are enemies to your whole endocrine system. If you do not like water

now, hang on, when you get enough salt in your body that will change and you

will crave water as oyu should. I couldn't drink water for abotu 25 years and

had to force myself to drink it and it tasted bad to me.. It was due to my low

sodium.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

My Ebay Jewelry Store http://stores.ebay.com/valeriescrystalcreations

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

September 17, 2006

It was based on clinical observations by Dr. Poesnecker, who treated

adrenal fatigue patients for about 40 years, but I honestly don't

recall exactly where I read this in his writings. However, he

didn't write it in an always/never type format...more of a " men

usually do better on DHEA, women on pregnenolone. " Since Dr.

Poesnecker isn't alive anymore, it will be hard to get him to

elaborate on this for us. )

Personally, I am on 25mg/day of DHEA, but have just started this 3

days ago, so can't comment on its effectiveness. My labs clearly

showed me as borderline low in this precursor as well as very, very

low in cortisol itself. So it seems to be an appropriate supplement

for me at this stage.

--Steve

>

> >>It is my understanding that DHEA is generally recommended for

men,

> and pregnenolone for women.<<

>

> Recommended by who? I have not seen anyone (and I tlk to

primarily females ) that did improve on Pregnenolone. Myself I did

wonderful on DHEA but now get acne fro it so I believe I have enough

now where I was deficient before. I am a huge proponent of DHEA when

appropriate but you need labs to knwo this. Ad then only take

reasonable doses. If very deficient I think even women can take 25MG

a dya. I took up to 200MG a dya with no bad effects and took that

much for over 6 months. But then i started to have acne like

breakouts, and slowly lowered it to now I take none. Pregnenolone

makes me TIRED. I even gave som to my cats after readoing all the

great things where it is promoted. Mind you thta are ALL neutered..

One male started trying to mate all the others, one female went into

nesting mode dragging my clothes under the bed to make her nest

which she then defended from the others another it did nothign for

and the last one became aggressive to the other cats.. I would say

this was a sure sign it becomes sex hormones !

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane

WV

> My Ebay Jewelry Store

http://stores.ebay.com/valeriescrystalcreations

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

>

September 18, 2006

>

> >>Cortisol:

> AM: 1.0 ng/ml (range: 3-8)

> Noon: 1.4 ng/ml (range: 2-4)

> Evening:1.1 ng/ml (range: 1-2)

> PM: 0.4 ng/ml (range: 05.-1.5)

>

> --

>

I've been drinking LOTS of reverse osmosis water w/ sea salt,

probably about 80 oz. per day, ever since I found out about it. I

also take 4-6,000mg. Vit. C. and 6 Gentle Iron caps daily. I even

put sea salt on my food. I just looked at the graph that ZRT puts on

their report sheet, and I can't believe that with my cortisol as bad

as it is that I am functioning as well as I am!

Yes.....I more than likely will need assistance with my dosages, and

I thank you for being there to help me out.......well, I especially

thank you for ALL of the help you've given me on STTM since July.

I'm thinking that I will have to do 10mg-5mg-2.5mg.-2.5mg, but I may

have to go as high as 10mg-10mg-5mg-5mg. I've heard that if you have

to use 30mg. per day, it's pretty much a good bet that you will have

to be on HC for life. Do you find this to be true? And, with

cortisol this weak, is LOW blood pressure more of a problem than

high blood pressure?

Tina C.

September 18, 2006